High-speed wireless broadband rolled out to west Shetland community

Wireless broadband offering speeds of around 25Mbps has been rolled out in West Burrafirth, Shetland.

Some of Shetland's fastest broadband services have been rolled out to the community of West Burrafirth after a group of frustrated residents decided to take action.

Big communications firms have been unwilling to upgrade broadband networks in the area, so members of the West Burrafirth Community Broadband Group (WBCBG) took matters into their own hands by urging a local firm to carry out the work, reports the Shetland Times.

Lottery funding was secured for the project, prompting Shetland Broadband to install a wireless link at Engamoor capable of delivering speeds of around 25Mbps.

The service is set to go live today (May 1st 2013), offering residents and businesses a significant boost on the 160Kbps speeds previously available.

John White, chairman of the WBCBG, spoke to members of management at telecoms giant BT as recently as last September to tell them that standards of connectivity were not up to scratch.

Commenting on the launch of the new wireless network, he said: "We are really pleased that we have been able to get the funding and infrastructure in place to ensure our community can access super-fast broadband speeds.

"Shetland Broadband has been invaluable with [its] expertise in making this project a reality."